The problem is that on Twitter alone there are at least 16 people claiming to be Santa.

Some even go so far as to claim "I am the real Santa Claus".

There's also a "Black Santa Claus", a "Bad Santa Claus" and even a scantily clad "Mrs Santa Claus".

But none have the blue verification tick of approval indicating that they are indeed the real Santa.

Tweeting one of these Santas could very easily lead to an awkward situation, similar to the scene from the Christmas movie Elf, where the protagonist Buddy discovers the department store Santa isn't real.

"You sit on a throne of lies. You stink. You smell like beef and cheese. You don't smell like Santa!" Buddy tells the fake Father Christmas in that movie.

So what to do?

The last thing you want at this time of year is to be mucking around sending dozens of tweets when there are better things to do, like stuffing your face with mince pies.

Facebook presents the same problem.

It has dozens of accounts all purporting to be Santa Claus.

Some sure look real.

For example, one account gives the following biographical details. Job: Head Honcho at North Pole. Lives at: North Pole.

Sounds about right.

Others are less convincing.

One Santa claims he studied at Oxford University and now lives in New Delhi, India.

Several describe themselves as being in an "open relationship", when we all know Santa is happily and monogamously wed to Ms Claus.

Instagram is no better.

There's a "Drunk Santa" on the popular photography app, which again we know cannot possibly be genuine.

Jolly yes. Merry even. But drunk Santa - no.

The only real solution to getting through to Santa's grotto this year is to sit down and write an old-fashioned letter.

Australia Post reckons 50 per cent of all Aussie children will write to him this year.